The Toronto Raptors have experienced a tumultuous season marked by lawsuits, trades, injuries, players taking personal leave, pizza gatherings, further injuries, and now, a possible gambling controversy. According to a report by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski on Monday night, the NBA is looking into ‘prop bet inconsistencies’ related to Jontay Porter, a key player for the Raptors.
Toronto Raptors center Jontay Porter is out of the lineup and a subject of an NBA investigation into irregularities on prop betting involving him, sources tell @DavidPurdum, @ESPNWindhorst and me. Story soon. pic.twitter.com/DncBNbDptW
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) March 25, 2024
The 24-year-old Porter, who secured a 2-way contract with the Raptors earlier in the season, was absent from the team for the last two games due to ‘personal reasons’. According to Wojnarowski, suspicions arise from two games where Porter participated for the Raptors but left prematurely due to injury: one on January 26th against the Clippers in Los Angeles, where he exited after aggravating an eye injury sustained against the Memphis Grizzlies days earlier, and another on March 20th versus the Phoenix Suns, where he played only 3 minutes before leaving due to an ‘illness’.
There has been an unusual surge in betting activity on Porter’s prop bets in those games, particularly in bets taking the under, which significantly exceeded the typical wager range of $1,000 to $2,000. While the NBA is investigating the matter, the Raptors have not yet issued an official statement. Coach Darko Rajakovic, when questioned post-game after the Raptors’ loss to the Brooklyn Nets, expressed no doubts regarding injuries and found Porter’s cases in January and March unremarkable.
The implication is that Porter or his associates may have intentionally influenced these games and placed substantial wagers on them to maximize profits. This perspective is perplexing considering Porter’s challenging journey to reach this point with the Raptors. Despite demonstrating lottery-pick potential during his college years at Missouri, Porter’s NBA path was hindered by multiple knee injuries, leading to him going undrafted. He finally debuted in the NBA during the 2020-2021 season with the Memphis Grizzlies, later signing a 2-way contract worth $410,000 with the Raptors.
Porter performed admirably in Toronto over 26 games this season, stepping up amidst injuries to Jakob Poeltl and trades that weakened the team’s frontcourt. His skills in passing, defending, and shooting made him a valuable asset in the Raptors’ offensive system, and he had showcased his abilities in several standout performances. Under normal circumstances, Porter would likely have been a strong contender for a lucrative long-term contract this summer, transitioning from his 2-way deal to a multi-million dollar agreement.
However, his NBA career and future contracts are now in jeopardy due to these allegations. Zooming out to a broader perspective across the sports landscape, this incident follows another gambling-related scandal involving Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani and his translator. It highlights the risks associated with sports leagues embracing gambling and betting, potentially exposing them to further scandals in the future.
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